The Idiot's Guide To The Matrix Thread, Support for the Matrix-challenged Options

[Kurukami]

Whew, back at last! I had just gotten my home network set up and then my cable provider dropped offline for a day... :(

Anyways. Synner, a quick question before I jump back into the action. Under the description for Evade Detection (p 224, SR3), it indicates that though Evade gets you away from the attentions of IC for a number of turns equal to the net successes you roll,

[Dashifen]

[Kurukami]

[hobgoblin]

just for the discussion of it, from what i read about the comlink util it seems it can only be used on RTGs...

[Kurukami]

Hmmm... interesting, good point. What utility, then, would a decker use to communicate with people via, for example, their telecoms and/or phones?

(For those who have the novel, I'm thinking of FastJack communicating with Rafael and his team in Free Fall, Tom Dowd's short story within the "Into the Shadows" anthology.)

[Drain Brain]

I'd just like to offer up my praise to Synner and the gang for this thread. As a GM I have always been... erm... intimidated by the matrix rules. This thread has made sense of them to me - so much so in fact that I have just ordered "Matrix" over the internet...

I know that others have already praised you all, but after spending my entire day here at work and having read this entire thread, the entire hosts thread and the original Guide thread too, I feel the need to add my bit so you know you are appreciated.

Just so y'all know, then, "We're not worthy... we're scum." and you are a god.

And as Raygun is to firearms, I dub thee, Synner, the "Prince of the 'Trix."

And I'm sorry to hear about your moggie. I have six of my own - I had seven but I ran one over (long story) and I was guilt ridden for weeks. I empathise.

[Kurukami]

[Drain Brain]

"Knight" maybe... no - "Paladin" since that'd fit with the elven theme of Princedom!

Oh crap - just realised I'm wasting your thread-space...

back to the topic... sorry...

over to you, Synner


(always wanted to do that...)

[hobgoblin]

[TinkerGnome]

Easier still, hook the phone/whatever up to one of the ports on your deck. A conversation done that way shouldn't be affected by your RAS and just give you that initative penalty for talking to the real world.

[Kurukami]

Good points, both of you. However, I think that the transducer should definitely eliminate the +8 TN modifier -- after all, you're not interacting with your real body, you're just thinking what you want to transmit and it is so.

Which could lead to some decidedly interesting subconscious rants if the decker is, hmmm, "chemically imbalanced" at the time of the run... :ork

[Drain Brain]

However I think that there should be some penalty for communicating between the matrix and the real world - it seems from all that I've read and construed from the way the rules work that there is some perceptual difference between the two realities. If the Deckers are getting multiple actions per combat turn (or whatever) they are doing everything faster. Regardless of whether they actually speak or they "think" their words, they'll be doing that faster too. It's difficult to slow down your train of thought for someonewho's much slower than you...

[TinkerGnome]

There is an initative penalty the decker has to take for slowing down enough to communicate with the real world. I can't find it in SR3, so it must be in Matrix.

[Kurukami]

Actually, it's right in SR3 on page 223. Under Initiative and the Physical World,

[Synner]

All right, I'm back from an extended weekend. Before I get back into the run let's see if I can address some of the backlog.

Dashifen - Personally when crashing IC Constructs, I use the Core Rating (rather than the multpliers) for the step increment it causes if unsurpressed.

Drain Brain - Thanks, it's always nice to know this thread has helped someone out there.

Regarding the commlink discussion - Kurukami suggested the solution I normally use. The decker either makes a headphone call or has a encrypted headlink radio which he can use via a transducer (I'm unsure if a router is enough) since this is purely mental activity and is not subject to the RAS override. I also allow them to plug communications devices such as telecoms and phones into their decks as Tinkergnome suggests and operate those as normal via DNI control.

[Synner]

Matrix Overwatch Walkthrough
Kurukami - Since I gave no indication that the SAN link to the new Host was Scrambled (I normally make the encryption 'visible' to anyone without the appropriate passwords), I assumed you were going for a Logon to Host operation straight away. Regardless, the Security Tally for this operation would have affected both Hosts since they're on the same PLTG.

And now on with the show...

The YCAP Host opposes Cheng's Analyse Security attempt, rolling it's Security Rating against the decker's Sneak-enhanced Analyze Utility (DF 11), getting two successes (this may seem inordinately high, but read on).

Despite the hard code, Cheng faith and confidence in her own software and hack skills pays off, the smoky incense cloud resolves into the information she asked for - an "Orange Ten" pictogram takes shape (pretty self-evident), followed by the numeral 10 (Security Tally). However a swarm of hightech bee-shaped Scouter10.3 microdrone icons fade into view, hovering over the double doorway as the Analyze concludes. Cheng has some tough choices to make as the Swap operation concludes.

For those who have difficulty understanding what just happened, here's the explanation with some of the secret stuff the GM hasn't told the player:

When Cheng arrived at the YCAP Host she was already carrying a Security Tally of 7 on the Yamatetsu PLTG. This was enough to trigger the Probe IC at step 4 of the new Host's Security Sheaf. However, Probe is Reactive IC which means it just sits there invisibly ruining your life if you don't notice it. Unfortunately for the decker, the GM made the secret Sensor (5) Test for noticing Triggered IC (SR3 page 209) and Cheng failed to generate any successes against the Probe IC rating of 9, meaning the IC remained undetected.

Meanwhile suspicious Cheng decides to perform an Analyze Security System Operation which though successful, pushed her Tally up a further 3 steps to 10 - partially because of the extra 9 dice the Probe adds to against System Tests (SR3 page 228) for the purpose of increasing Security Tally only- activating the Scout IC at step 8. Scout is also Reactive IC similar to Probe in operation. So while Cheng is retrieving her Analyze Security results - telling her she is on an Orange-10 Host and that she has a current Security Tally of 10 (already counting the Host's successes opposing the Analyze Security operation) - the GM makes another secret Sensor (5) Test against the Scout IC rating (10) for her to notice the second Triggered IC. This time Cheng gets lucky and racks up two successes (which tells her she's triggered IC, especifically Scout IC).

Note - I assume from the rules that the information acquired in the various Analyze type System Operations is staggered by the number of successes not unlike Legwork.

[Kurukami]

Hells, Orange-10? :eek: I see this is going to be one of those seriously challenging runs... and here I am without the best of utilities prepared in my selection of tools.

So, first, a question: when one Evades Detection, does that maneuver out of the way of all IC currently looking at the decker, or simply of those that the decker has detected, or only one? It seems likely that the middlemost choice is the correct one, since IC the decker hasn't yet located would be hidden in background noise... and therefore, the character wouldn't know to avoid particular places it might already be eyeing.

Regardless, in this case Evading probably wouldn't be my best option. Cheng isn't here for a quick in-and-out datasteal, or moving through the host en route to a juicier target on another system -- she's going to be in-host for a good long while, providing cover for her team. That means that I must find a way to eliminate the IC, so as to ensure that I can actually perform my duties.

Given that, a Position-Attack maneuver would be the best choice -- if I succeed in it, I can either reduce the TN for my attack or increase the Power of said attack. The attack program I plan to use is already going to inflict D damage (assuming it hits), so additional successes wouldn't be too useful given that the Matrix rules have no "overdamage" like physical combat does. Thus, I'll make my Evasion roll in the hopes of getting the best striking vector that I can manage.

Cheng, seeing the swarm flit into the corridor, realizes all this in a fraction of a second, slips into cybercombat-time, and pulls the wheel-lock pistol from her sash with her left hand. Her right flicks another smoke-capsule at the host's "ceiling" as she dances backwards to what she judges as the best spot to fire from, and she extends the pistol towards where she anticipates the swarm will move to avoid the cloaking smoke-code. The blackpowder weapon, with its maw sculpted into the form of a dragon's head, is already primed and prepared.

[ Cheng's about to attempt a Position Attack maneuver. This, like all combat maneuvers which can be performed in the Matrix, matches the decker's Evasion rating against the Security Value of the Host (or the Sensors rating of an opposing decker). Cheng needs to roll a number of dice equal to the deck's Evasion rating (6) against a TN of (Security Value [10] - Cloak utility [5]), or 5. At the same time, the Host rolls its Security Rating (10) against a TN of 6. The roll that gets the most successes gets to apply those for its next combat action against the opponent. Naturally, you get to add Hacking Pool dice to the test if you so desire.

Here, I'm adding three of my eight dice for the test -- that'll give Cheng nine dice to roll against the TN of 5, which hopefully should grant me more successes than the Host. If I fail, then things will rapidly become much worse for Cheng. I roll 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1 -- enough for three successes. But will that be enough to up the Damage code on the attack by a powerful amount? ]

As the IC swarm swoops around the edges of the smoke-cloud, Cheng points the weapon at the central code-cluster and quickly pulls the trigger. Codestrings hover in the forefront of her thoughts, ready to lessen the security reaction to the destruction of its IC. A gout of smoke roars forth as the pistol fires --

[ Game aside: So, at the beginning of cybercombat here on this new system, Cheng rolls her Initiative -- 5, 3, 2, 1. That score of 11 adds to her Matrix Reaction of 14 to give her a final Initiative of 25 -- enough for three Combat passes.

Cheng needs 5's to hit the IC on this system, because it's an Orange host and it is a Legitimate icon. (See Resolving Attacks, p. 226 in SR3.) The Attack utility she's using is Attack-6D, with the one-shot option. Under normal circumstances, looking back at my posts, I would only have one die available -- having used seven of my eight dice in evading the Scout-IC on the chokepoint host, attempting to analyze the Access system on this target host from the chokepoint, logging on to this host, and analyzing its security. However, since I left cybercombat when I got past the chokepoint, and then re-entered it here on this new host, I now have access to my entire Hacking Pool again.

If the GM is nice, he'll allow me (presuming I kill the IC) to use a die from my Hacking Pool to suppress the Security Tally rise from the IC's destruction, rather than lower my DF by one for that purpose. That optional rule is mentioned on p. 26 of the Matrix rules. Obviously, I can't use a die to suppress the IC if I've already rolled it with my Attack test.

However, since I do have most of my Hacking Pool at my fingertips for this situation (I used three of my dice to add to my Position Attack maneuver), I'll use the basic Attack program and add a die from the Hacking Pool. I'm playing this attack strictly by the book rules -- such that you roll the Attack utility's rating in dice, plus any Hacking Pool you'd care to contribute, against the target icon's TN. Cheng rolls the six dice granted by the Attack utility and the one from my Pool in an attempt to get the 5's she needs to strike the Scout IC, and gets 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 2, 1. Not bad at all -- four successes, so she hits. Strictly by the book, that's a hit inflicting a regular Deadly "wound", which can be lowered to a Serious if the IC rolls two successes on its resistance roll. Since the IC has no Hacking Pool with which to improvise a defense (a possibility mentioned in the Matrix rulebook on p. 122), it has no other way to limit the damage from Cheng's Attack program. Cheng, by the way, is holding back some Hacking Pool on the off chance that the nasty might try to tag her -- then she'll use Pool dice for an improvised defense, as mentioned above. ]

-- and the buckshot tears through the heart of the swarm. With her free hand, Cheng prepares to manipulate the ashy, shattered remnants of the IC-code into a holding pattern around her icon, preventing the code fragments from setting off alert flags in the host.

[ Cheng is prepared to use a die from her Hacking Pool to suppress the (presumably) destroyed IC keep the host's Security Tally from going up by a whopping 10 points. Therefore, she's used one of her eight dice, has one in reserve to suppress the IC if needed, and has six still available for other purposes. Whether or not the IC manages to resist the attack-virus's damage is still up in the air. ]

Over to you, Synner.

[Synner]

Kurukami - In the interest of clarity assume that you "disengaged" from Cybercombat when you Logged On to the new Host and lost the Scout IC. Please edit your last post accordingly.

Regarding the Evade Detection doubt: IMO I'd say it would only affect IC involved in the Cybercombat in the first place. This would preclude reactive IC that you haven't detected before.

Regarding Cybercombat damage determination: I prefer to stick to the book. Cybercombat is lethal enough as it stands, though the extra successes don't add anything, you can make two Attacks (Simple Actions)per action, and there is no proper dodge analogue.

Regarding the Optional Suppression Rule: I'm okay with using this.

[Kurukami]

OK, my post above is updated with the current information. Did my Attack utility manage to fragment the Scout IC?

[Synner]

Apologies for the hiatus but I got an offer I couldn't refuse to attend RatCon in Germany over the weekend and really didn't get the time to post before I went thanks to last minute travel arrangements and ironing out work details. I'm back now and will post tomorrow without fail.

[Kurukami]

Hell, not a problem at all. The forums were down all weekend anyways. :S

[Gorath]

Too bad the story goes not further... I would be glad to learn more about the Matrix.

[Synner]

The thread is not dead, I've just had a lot of RL work.

Matrix Overwatch Walkthrough
Back to the walkthrough. Kurukami please wait for the Oppositions' Initiative before moving on just in case next time. Otherwise we might have to reedit more. In this case I'll assume the IC rolled only a 21 and that you got the first action.

Note - For those that have been following this thread since the beginning, Kurukami is using one of the two possible interpretations of the Attack Program Test. We've discussed this before a few pages back and you can see the other alternative in practice in the previous walkthrough. Until there is an official errata or clarification on the matter this is something you should sort out with your GM before the run. For the record I prefer the alternative interpretation.

Before going further ahead I'd like to remind everyone that use of an Attack Program is a Simple Action. This means that normally you are allowed 2 uses of Attack per Action Phase, or alternatively you can pair an Attack with a Combat Maneuver (SR3 pages 225-226 - Evade Detection, Parry Attack and Position Attack). Kurukami might be in trouble because he only has a One-Shot Attack utility in active memory.

Kurukami, please edit your post accordingly to say if you are Attacking once or if you want to do a Position Attack before the One-Shot Attack. Note that by the rules whether this Attack succeeds or not the program is gone from Active Memory and has to be reloaded with a Swap Memory operation as per the rules in Matrix, page 84.

Note - One of the reasons Initiative is important is because the first two options are available to IC too, which makes certain types of Reactive IC like Scout harder to hit in high rating systems and counters the decker-always-goes-first-against-reactive-IC-because-it-doesn't-attack preconception.

Now let's get back to the action...

Cheng fires her blunderbuss the shrapnel of code shooting through the heart of the IC Swarm shattering it's cohesion....

(I will edit the results depending on Kurukami's decision regarding his previous action. As it stands the IC needs two successes at target number 6 [Attack Utility Rating] to survive, but he might decide to go for a Position Attack Maneuver which would Lower his target number if successful).

[BigKnockers]

Wow, I never realised Reactive IC could do combat maneuvers. That could make it very annoying to pin down could it not? What happens if it keeps "Evade Detection"ing? Does that mean the decker needs to "Locate IC" to find it again (thus possibly racking up Security Tally)?

[hobgoblin]

remeber that anything doing a evade detection is hidden only of som many turns as you roll successes, - 1 pr +1 you get on your tally after that so if your hideing dont mess around to mutch as a failed move may make you "visible" again (and attract even more security!)